Okay so I don't really remember what they are called, but the metal gas stove top food/sauce/whatever else falls in catchers.

I am trying to find a good way to clean these. I have tried comet, regular dish soap, a steel wool pad, and I just can't seem to get all of the burned on stuff off.

Do any of you wonderful people have a soak recipe or just a special way that you clean these? I tend to keep the stove top clean just not the catchers, and by the time I do get around to scrubbing them they are covered in black.

You mean the drip pans or the grates ? If they are stainless or enamel, spray with oven cleaner. It will come right off after it sits for a while. Same for any pyrex or corning ware dishes that are crusty. I have bought a lot of yucky looking ones at garage sales for cheap, done that to them and they looked brand new when done.

If you don't have a big tub then use your bath tub, just get ready to clean it back up when done. Take dishwasher Electrolsol powder. After putting your oven railings, drip pans and burner grates in the tub, pour the powder in as you put in hot water. Depending on how grimmy, let soak at least 8 hrs. I then take a Mr Clean sponge and just wipe it off and rinse. Done mine the other day. I had to use the bath tub so that required using Mr Clean sponge afterward on it. This is the way I clean the rental stoves stuff up too.

I pour hot water on them, let them soak a couple minutes, then wipe off all of the surface grime. I do this a couple of times if it is bad. Then I am left with stuff that won't come off. I use baking soda on that, but any of the above suggestions would work.

__________________Nothing is as strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength - St. Francis de Sales

Stick 'em in a plastic bag with ammonia and leave them over night. They'll rinse right off in the morning.

I do this as well and I have to say it works SO well. I use this method for even the grill grates on our BBQ grill. Pans with stuck on mess. A hint though, use a black trash bag for faster results! It heats up the contents more.
God Bless,
Michele

Well, they cost about a buck apiece, if I remember right. I've been known to replace them when the balance between work, cleaning solutions and new drip pans equals out. But I'm a pretty lazy housekeeper!